Zerahiah the Greek

Zerahiah the Greek was a Jewish philosopher who lived in the Byzantine Empire during the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Although details about his life are scarce, it is known that he made significant contributions to Jewish ethics through his writings. His most notable work is the ethical treatise "Sefer ha-Yashar", which showcases his thoughts on moral principles and values.

The attribution of "Sefer ha-Yashar" to Zerahiah the Greek was initially unclear, leading to confusion with another work of the same name by Jacob Tam. However, Menahem Lonzano correctly identified the ethical work as belonging to Zerahiah in his poem "Derek Ḥayyim". Despite this clarification, some bibliographers mistakenly attributed the work to Zerachiah Ha-Levi Gerondi, author of "Sefer ha-Ma'or", due to the shared initials. Nevertheless, Zerahiah the Greek's authorship of "Sefer ha-Yashar" is now recognized, highlighting his importance as a Jewish philosopher in the Byzantine Empire.